Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to give an update on the student accommodation at University College Dublin that is university owned. [14878/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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To date, as part of short term response measures, the Government approved in principle up to €100m in funding to unlock the development of approximately 1,000 student accommodation beds across a number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including a 493-bed student accommodation project in University College Dublin (UCD).

Supply data from the Higher Education Authority indicates there are 15,532 Public purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) beds nationally, of these 4,187 beds are owned by (UCD)

A new student accommodation strategy is in development following approval of the long-term policy in January 2024. The objective of the new Strategy is to increase the supply of state supported student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery by developing standardised design guidance, promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development by designing a Technological University Student Accommodation Programme.

The output from the Standardised Design Study and the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options to inform the new Strategy and are expected in early 2025. I intend on submitting the Strategy to Government in Q2 2025.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans that have been made to progress student accommodation on or near University College Dublin and the Belfield campus. [14879/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is progressing both short and longer term student accommodation policy responses under the Housing for All plan.

A capital investment of €100m from the National Development Plan windfall allocation has enabled the progression of new purpose-built student accommodation beds through the Department’s Short-Term Activation Plan.

This funding enabled activation of University College Dublin (UCD) student accommodation project for delivery of 493 beds. Construction is planned to commence on this project in 2025 subject to successful completion of due diligence assessments and the tender process.

Under this measure funding is provided to higher education institutions to activate projects with planning permission that had stalled due to cost viability challenges.

A percentage of the new beds will be ringfenced for target group students at below market rates. The target group are those considered most disadvantaged by the SUSI, NAP and DARE schemes.

A new student accommodation strategy is in development following approval of the long-term policy in January 2024. The objective of the new Strategy is to increase the supply of state supported student accommodation, reduce the cost of delivery by developing standardised design guidance, promote efficient use of existing building stock through refurbishment and an examination of vacancy, while supporting balanced regional development by designing a Technological University Student Accommodation Programme.

The output from the Standardised Design Study and the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme will provide a framework of delivery models and funding options to inform the new Strategy and are expected in early 2025. I intend on submitting the Strategy to Government in Q2 2025.